• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.39-45
• /
• 2006

As the antioxidant and free radical scavenger, glutathione (GSH) participates in the preservation of cellular redox status and defense against reactive oxygen species and xenobiotics. Glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL; also known as ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase, EC 6.3.2.2) is the rate limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis. In the present study, the accurate method for determination of GCL activity in crude liver extracts was developed by measuring both ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine and GSH from cysteine in the presence of glutamate, glycine and an ATP-generating system. We added glycine to promote the conversion of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine to GSH, and to minimize the possibility of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine metabolism to cysteine and oxoproline by ${\gamma}$-glutamylcyclotransferase. We established optimal conditions and substrate concentrations for the enzyme assay, and verified that inhibition of GCL by GSH did not interfere with this assay. Therefore, this assay of hepatic GCL under optimal conditions could provide a more accurate measurement of this enzyme activity in the crude liver extracts.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.53-59
• /
• 1984

Drug-metabolizing system which has the important role in drug metabolism is localized in smooth endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes and is composed of NADPH, NADPH-cytochrome $P_{450}$ reductase, cytochrome $P_{450}$ and others. It is well known that the enzyme system is induced by phenobarbital and methylcholanthrene. Lipid peroxidation is reaction of oxidative deterioration of polyunsaturated lipids. Formation of lipid peroxides in liver microsome has been found to produce degradation of phospholipid, which are major components of microsomal membrane. The relationship between the formation of lipid oxides and the activities of drug-metabolizing enzyme in the liver of rats was reported by several investigators. In this study the effect of riboflavin tetrabutylate, an antioxidant on lipid peroxidation, specially the relationship between lipid peroxidation and drug-metabolizing enzyme system was investigated. In addition the effect of vitamin A derivatives, such as retinoic acid and retinoid on the enzyme was also observed. Results are summarized as followings. 1) The pretretment with riboflavin tetrabutylate inhibited completely the lengthened sleeping time due to $CCl_{4}$ treatment. 2) The increase of TBA value was prevented by the pretreatment with riboflavin tetrabutylate. 3) The pretreatment with riboflavin tetrabutylate also prevented the decrease of drug-metabolizing enzyme caused by $CCl_{4}$. 4) Both retinoic acid and retinoid remarkably decreased the activity of aminopyrine demethylase. Pretreatment of riboflavin tetrabutylate, however, prevented inhibitory effect of retinoic acid on the enzyme activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.47-50
• /
• 1994

For the biological survey, effects of Ailanthi Cortex Radicis, the root bark of Ailanthus altissima(Simaroubaceae) on epoxide hydrolyzing enzymes were checked. The methanolic extract and its chloroform fraction were shown to activate the liver metabolizing enzyme system including epoxide hydrolase system which was monitored by activities of transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and epoxide hydrolase system in bromobenzene treated rats. But they showed no effect on glutathione S-transferase activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.226-234
• /
• 2006

Disturbance of antioxidant system is very common in chronic alcoholics and herbal or natural products with antioxidant activity have been used for its treatment. This study was to investigate the effect of Vitis vinifera extract(V), Schisandra chinensis extract(S), Taraxacum officinale extract(T), Gardenia jasminoides extract(G), Angelica acutiloba extract(A) and Paeonia japonica extract(P), and their combinations on the antioxidant and ethanol oxidation system. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet(ED) and were then given different herbal extract mixtures for 6 weeks including VST(V 100+S 150+T 150mg/kg/day), VSG(V 100+S 150+G 150mg/kg/day), VTG(V 100+T 150+G 150mg/kg/day), and VAP(V 100+A 150+P 150mg/kg/day). When the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH) were compared between ED only group and herbal extracts treatment group, the differences were statistically significant. Phase I and II(glutathione-S-transferase, phenol sulfatransferase) enzyme activities were found to be significantly higher in the VAT treatment group compared to the ED group. Herbal extracts not only repressed the ethanol-induced elevation of malondialdehyde level, but also protected against ethanol-induced decrease in glutathione content, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. The administration of the herbal extracts was found to be effective in eliminating lipid-peroxides induced by long-term consumption of alcohol by activating various enzyme systems and physiological active compound formation system. After a chronic consumption of alcohol, Angelica Radix protected the liver via activating the ethanol-metabolism enzyme system, and Paeoniae Radix via activating the ethanol-metabolism enzyme and the phase I, II-metabolism enzyme system. Taraxaci Herba was also effective in liver protection via activating the ethanol-metabolism enzyme system and the phase I, II-metabolism enzyme system, Gardeniae Fructus via activating the phase II-metabolism enzyme system and the anti-oxidation system enzyme, and Schisandra Fructus and a grapestone via activating the anti-oxidation system. Our data suggest that these herbal extracts may be useful as a health functional food or new drug candidate for fatty liver and hepatotoxicity induced by chronic alcohol consumption.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2000

This study was intended to examine whether dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dietary fat level or source could modulate glutathione utilizing detoxifying system activity and the cytosolic NADPH generation in rat liver. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed semipurifed diet containing either 2%(w/w) corn oil (low level of corn oil diet: 5 ca% of fat) 15% corn oil (high level of corn oil diet: 31 cal% of fat) or 13% sardine oil plus 2% corn oil(high level of fish oil diet: 31 cal% of fat) for 9 weeks. Half of the rats in each diet group were fed a diet supplemented with 0.2% DHEA (w/w). DHEA administration increased plasma total cholesterol level in low corn oil diet-fed rats. The high fish oil diet significantly decreased plasma total cholesterol level compared to the high corn oil diet. Plasma triglyceride level was not significantly changed by DHEA administration and dietary fat level and source. Fasting plasma glucose level was increased by DHEA administration and fish oil diet. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in liver tissue was significantly increased by DHEA administration and high fat diet, especially fish oil diet. Malic enzyme activity in liver tissue was significantly increased by DHEA administration and high fat diet, especially fish oil diet. Malic enzyme activity in liver tissue was significantly increased by DHEA administration. DHEA suppressed the glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-dependent enzymes compared to the low corn oil diet, while fish oil diet elevated the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase compared to corn oil diet. These results suggest that DHEA administration and high level of corn oil diet may suppress the cellular detoxifying system activity through reduction of glutathione utilization, while the fish oil diet did not show these effects.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2002

Effect of cyclohexanone treatment on the activities oxygen free radical and cyclohexanone metabolizing enzyme in acute liver damaged rats, was investigated. Acute liver damage was induced in rats with pretreatment of 50% $CCl_4$ in olive oil(0.1ml/100g body wt) intraperitoneally 3 times every other day. Cyclohexanone(1.56g/kg body wt, i.p.) was administered to the animals 24 hours after the last Pretreatment of CC1$_4$. Rats were sacrificed at 4 hours after injection of cyclohexanone. On the basis of liver weight/body weight(％), serum levels alanine aminotransferase activity and hepatic protein content, cyclohexanone treatment to acute liver damaged animals led to the more enhanced liver damage. On the other hand, injection of cyclohexanone to the rats led to the increased activities of hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent aniline hydroxylase and xanthine oxidase. Furthermore, by treatment of cyclohexanone to the acute liver damaged rats hepatic xanthine oxidase activity was more increased than the $CCl_4$ treated rats. In case of oxygen free radical scavenging system, the hepatic glutathione content and the activities of hepatic glutathione S-transferase, catalase, superoxide dismutase were generally increased by injection of cyclohexanone to rats, and the hepatic glutathione content, catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities were more decreased in liver damaged rats by the treatment of cyclohexanone. In conclusion, the cyclohexanone treatment to acute liver damaged rats led to enhancement of liver damage that may be due to oxygen free radical together with cyclohexanone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.527-537
• /
• 1991

To evaluate an effect of liver xanthine oxidase on the induction of liver damage, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was intraperitoneally injected twice at 0.1ml/100g body weight to the rate fed a low (LP)or high protein diet(HP) while the control group fed LP or HP received only olive oil. The changing rate of liver xanthine oxidas activity was compared with that of a free radical generating enzyme, liver aniline hydroxylase and a scavenging enzyme, glutathions S-transferase activity between the rate fed a LP and those fed HP, and the two groups treated with CCl4. Concomitantly, the degree of liver damage which could be considered as the paramete for CCl4 metabolism in case of CCl4-intoxicated animal was observed in the present experimental conditions and the effect of allopurinol, xanthine oxidase inhibitor, on the CCl4-toxicity of rate liver was alos demostrated. On the other hand, the comparative effect of actinomycin D on the liver and serum xanthine oxidase of CCl4-treated rats fed HP with that of those fed LP and the kinetics of purifed liver enzyme from the liver of CCl4-treated rats fed HP was also compared with that of those fed LP to clarify the differences of xanthine oxidase activity between two groups. The increasing rate of liver weigth/body wt, serum levels of ALT and the decreasing rate of hepatic ALT activity and protein contents to each control group were higher in CCl4-treated rats fed HP than those fed LP. Under the animal models as indentified by the present data herein, the liver xanthine oxidase activity was higher in CCl4-treated rats fed HP than those fed LP, and the control group fed HP also showed the much higher activity xanthine oxidase than that fed LP, whereas there were no differences in the activity of hepatic aniline hydroxylase and glutathions S-transferase between the two group treated with CCl4. Although the hepatic aniline hydroxylase activity was somewhat higher in the rats fed HP than those fed LP, the increasing rate of liver xanthine oxidase to the rats fed LP was higher in those fed HP than that of liver aniline hydroxylase. The degree of liver damage identified such as liver weight and serum ALT activity was less in the CCl4-treated rats pretreated with allopurinol. These results suggest that even a system at which xanthine oxidase acts as well as the drug metabolizing enzyme may influence the acelatin of CCl4 metabolism. In addition, the purified liver xanthine oxidase from CCl4-treated rats fed HP showed decreased Km value when compared to its control group. The Km value of liver xanthine oxidase of CCl4-treated rats fed LP showed a similar Km value with its control group. Furthermore, the decreasing rate of liver and serum xanthine oxidase acitivity in CCl4-treated rats pretreated with actinomycin D to the CCl4-treated rats was higher in rats fed HP than in those fed LP. These results suggest that the inductino of xanthine oxidase in CCl4-treated rats fed HP may be greater than in those fed LP.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.329-335
• /
• 2006

The present study was designed to investigate aging-related effects on the activities of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes of rat liver by dietary supplementation of Korean red ginseng water-extract. Rat did not show any discernible signs of the rejection symptoms, and blood GOT and GPT levels were not influenced by ginseng water extracts, Cytochrome 450 levels and NADPH cytochrome P45O reductase, p-450 dependent ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, and benzphetamine N-demethylase activities were decreased with aging, however, these phase I system enzymes activities in the ginseng group of24 months were well maintained compared with normal group. But, Levels of cytochrome bs and NADH-cytochrome b$_5$ reductase activities were also decreased with aging and were not found a clear difference between two groups. Glutathione-s-transferase activity, phase II enzyme system, in liver cytosols was also decreased in old ages, but the degree of decrease was higher in normal group than in giuseng supplemented group. These results indicate that long-term supplementation of red ginseng water extracts from weaning to 24 months do not show any side effects to rats, and retard age-related deteriorations of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes activities in old ages.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.29-33
• /
• 1984

The paper aimed to review the influences of ginseng on the metabolism of foreign substances and on the activity of hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme system in mouse or rat liver. It has been known that ginseng components reduces the motality rates and the toxic effects induced by foreign materials. Chronic pretreatment of mouse or rat with ginseng extract fractions or saponin caused the increase in the metabolism of foreign materials and the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes, such as cytochrome $P_{450}$, NADPH cytochrome C reductase and glucuronyl S-transferase in liver. Thus, it may be concluded that decrease in toxic effect of foreign substances by ginseng pretreatment may be partly related to the induction of drug metabolizing enzymes in liver.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.384-388
• /
• 1991

To explore the effect of monosodium-L-glutamate(MSG) on CCI$_{4}$-damaged liver in Wister male rat, 5% MSG solution as drink water were administered after S.C. injection of 0.1 mg/kg CC1$_{4}$ twice a week for 4 weeks. After last administration of MSG, heptic glutathione(GSH) dependent system was assayed. It showed that MSG increased significanly hepatic glutathione(GSH) and glutathione peroxidase(GSH$_{px}$), but decreased glutathione-S-transferase(GST) acivity in normal rats. MSG increased significantly the GSH$_{px}$ and GST activities in rats with CCI$_{4}$-induced liver damage. These results indicate that decrease of GSH dependent systems in CC1$_{4}$ liver injury might be partially elevated by coadministration of MSG.